Wiim Ultra and C53 Mcintosh preamplifier

[maker__77_97]

Dear users, I have a Wiim Ultra currently connected to the Line out with RCA cable to my Mcintosh C53 preamplifier.
1. To make full use of my C53 and use the Wiim only as a streamer excluding its preamplifier, how should I proceed?
2. To use the DAC of my C53, therefore excluding the DAC of the Wiim, what should I use, a USB audio cable or a coaxial cable? Which cable would give more quality to the signal?
Thanks to all of you.

 

[Mr Ee]

Welcome.

1) You can't bypass the 'preamp-ness' of the wiim.
Instead of thinking of it like that, think of it as merely supplying the input signal your Mc requires, be that analog or digital.
i.e. really no different from a CD player's analog or digital output into your Mc.

2a) Try both, see which you prefer, if either.
Or indeed if you prefer the ultra analog output.
imo, there's really no single correct answer here.apart from what you like best, whether that be the sound or the convenience or whatever.
2b) There may well be a technical answer, but I'd still choose whatever sounds best to you. The dac itself can be a factor here, but I'd hope the one in the Mc would be pretty good given the price and pedigree.

 

[maker__77_97]

A thousand thanks. I read somewhere that to exclude the Wiim preamplifier you have to select the fixed volume at 100 in the audio menu. This is therefore not true.

 

[Valentino]

I would set the output to fixed, and if I decided to use the analog output I’d set the output level to best match my other analog sources.

 

[adias]

Connect the Ultra digital out to your digital in on the C53, usb out/in which is available in both units.

 

[Francesco58]

your MC 53 is a wonderful machine... I use a preamp from another brand (also tube-based, by the way) and I use it like this: wiim ultra connected via USB to the preamp,...Wiim fixed audio setting (blue tick)...output selected on the wiim USB...so it becomes a pure streamer...

 

[Mr Ee]

A thousand thanks. I read somewhere that to exclude the Wiim preamplifier you have to select the fixed volume at 100 in the audio menu. This is therefore not true.

Well... ok... if preamp refers to just volume control and you don't want the wiim to perform any digital attenuation then yes, fixed volume will bypass that. You should still choose an appropriate line out voltage level when using ultra rca out.
You may want to experiment with PEQ / room correction etc, even if just to see if you prefer it with this manipulation.
Purists will want no eq and fixed volume for bit perfect output though.